Improvement in hatters  head-measures



r. A; FEnToN.

'Hatters Head-Measures.

Patented N 5v.1a,1a73.

UNITED STATES Piura:NT GFFICE.

FRANK A. EENroN, or cAMnEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN HA'T'TERS HEAD-MEASURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,606., datedNovember-A18, 1873; 'application iled December 1l, 1872.

To all whom it may concerti Be it known that I, FRANK A. FENTON, ofCamden, New Jersey, have invented an Improved Hatters7 Head-Measure, oi'which the A contrivance used by hatters, called a conformator, fortaking the form or shape of the head.

'Such is not the object of the present invention. Figure 1 is a plan ofthe head-measure. Fig.

l2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thesame.

The instrument is shaped somewhat in the form of a hat, with acylindrical shell or body, A, and a brim, B. This is divided vertically,s'o that one end, al, may overlap the other one, a2. A portion of thebrim overlaps in the same manner. To the end a2 is secured a screw, C,which passes through a horizontal slot, d, in the end al. A thumbscrew,g, upon the screw C, serves to hold the ends securely in contact. Thissliding slot and screw, or a similar sliding guide, permit theenlargement and contraction of the shell wit-hin certain limits of sizecommon among hatters, and retain the ends also in contact. 0n the end a2is secured or engraved the scale K, usually employed by hatters todenote the size of the head. A pointer, p, touches accurately upon theengraved lines. An elastic band, mf, is drawn tight around the shell A,so that when the machine is placed 'in position it shall t close andconform to the head. The brim B is more easily be bent to the properform.

The Shen itself, without the brim, my be used for taking the size of thehead.; but it would not be so useful or convenient as the instrumentherein shown, which has the advantage of conveying the impression to thepurchaser of its being .a real hat, both in weight and form, andconsequently he can adjust it with much greater accuracy upon his head;and no one but the wearer can do this .4 precisely in the way he prefersto wear his hat.

The material I use is canvas stiii'ened with shellac, or thinsheet-brass. When ofthe latter material, I perforate both the shell andbrim to make it lighter.

To ascertain the size of hat required by a purchaser, the set-screw C isloosened, and the purchaser then fits the device upon his head, in theexact position as if it were a hat. The

two ends are then held fast between the thumb and finger, or secured byt-he set-screw, and the size read offon the scale.'

I claim- 1. The combination of the yielding shell A,

the sliding guide d, the set-screw C, the engraved scale K, and theelastic cord m, ar-` ranged and operating as herein described.

2. The arrangement of the yielding shell A, made of a continuous stripof thin ilexible material, in combination with the brim B, rigidly i

